FALL RIVER — Gov. Deval Patrick has picked Bristol Community College trustee Joseph Marshall to become the newest chairman of its Board of Trustees. Marshall replaces the late Fernando Garcia.

Marshall, a Fall River resident, has served on the board since 2007. He was recently elected by other trustees as their vice chairman. Most of the 11 trustees for the college are appointed by the governor for five-year terms and can serve a maximum of two terms. The board also has an alumni representative and a current student representative.

Marshall is the founder and president of the financial consulting firm J. Marshall Associates on Eastern Avenue and has served in leadership roles on several city boards and community groups, including the Fall River Office of Economic Development, the Board of Assessors, SER-Jobs for Progress and the Prince Henry Society of Fall River.

Marshall is a veteran of the Vietnam War and an alumnus of BCC. He graduated in 1978 and also served as former president of the college’s Alumni Foundation.

“We all look forward to working with Chairman Marshall to further strengthen our great institution,” BCC President John Sbrega said in a statement.

“I just thought I could carry on what Fernando started,” Marshall said of his appointment when reached Wednesday afternoon. He said he hopes to continue several of Sbrega’s initiatives, including expanding BCC’s campuses in other communities.

“We’ve gone to Attleboro. The New Bedford campus evolved. We’re looking for space in Taunton right now — those type of things I strongly support,” Marshall said. “So many students are looking for an affordable education, and Bristol Community College has that.”

Marshall said he hopes to see continued expansion.

“We’re busting at the seams in New Bedford. Space is at a premium.," he said. "There could be some opportunities for us.

“We are second in enrollment in all the 15 (state) community colleges, but we’re 14th in terms of financial support. We are able to do more with less.”

In addition to growing the campus, the board has recently had to make significant policy decisions, including addressing campus security by allowing BCC police officers to carry firearms.

The chairman of the Board of Trustees was formerly a position elected by the 11-member board. That changed three years ago, when Patrick assumed the authority of appointing the chairs of the boards that oversee each of the state’s community colleges. Marshall said he had previously submitted a statement of interest for the position of chairman.

In addition to working with the other trustees to establish policies for the college, Marshall said the chairperson has the additional duty of maintaining communication with the local delegation of state legislators and their colleagues in Boston.

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“You do it because you love it,” Marshall said.

Marshall said BCC endeavors to get students in the door, and acknowledged that, while more still needs to be done, the ultimate decision to enroll rests with students.

“We reach out to high schools, the community — we’re doing a lot,” he said. “I think we’re making every possible effort to make it convenient to have everyone go to school. We can open doors and draw arrows to get in there, but the initiative is still on them.”

Marshall is only the second BCC alumnus to serve as chairman of the board. The previous was John Almeida.

He noted that the school is geared toward nontraditional students.

“If you go to Bristol Community College, you probably have a lot more complicated story behind it,” Marshall said. “You hear all those stories when you go to events, like graduation.”

Regardless of where students start, Marshall said, “everyone gets to the same place."